Relief valve mechanism for flushometers

ABSTRACT

A manually actuated relief valve member particularly suitable for temporarily relieving or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;bleeding&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; a pressure head in flush valves or flushometers for instituting a flushing cycle therein, is described. An actuating handle controls operation of a rod member slidably arranged within a valve body member and having at its inner (high pressure) end a circular washer seatable upon an annular valve seat at the inner end of the valve body member. A first water flow passageway leading to the high pressure end of the release valve mechanism is such as to present greater resistance or impedance to water flow than a second water release passageway leading from the low pressure end of the relief valve mechanism so that substantially no pressure head can develop between the high and low pressure ends, (inner and outer ends) of the valve body member, thereby substantially eliminating leakage to the outer end of the valve body member and preventing leakage at the handle without the use of packing glands and the like.

United States Patent 191 Engstrom RELIEF VALVE MECHANISM FORFLUSHOMETERS [76] Inventor: Oscar L. Engstrom, 35 Bond Street,

Long Island, NY. 10012 [22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 190,771

[521' US. Cl. 251/44, 251/33 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 31/383 [58] Field ofSearch 251/44, 45, 43, 33

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,813,709 7/1931 Pasman251/43 X 1,876,223 /1932 l-lageym. 251/43 X 1,735,244 11/1929 Handy251/44 2,998,221 8/1961 Engstrom 251/44 Primary Examiner -ArnoldRosenthal A tt0rney-Ernest H. Schmidt June 26, 1973 A manually actuatedrelief valve member particularly suitable for temporarily relieving orbleeding a pressure head in flush valves or flushometers for institutinga flushing cycle therein, is described. An actuating handle controlsoperation of a rod member slidably arranged within a valve body memberand having at its inner (high pressure) end a circular washer seatableupon an annular valve seat at the inner end of the valve body member. Afirst water flow passageway leading to the high pressure end of therelease valve mechanism is such as to present greater resistance orimpedance to water flow than a second water release passageway leadingfrom the low pressure end of the relief valve mechanism so thatsubstantially no pressure head can develop between the high and lowpressure ends, (inner and outer ends) of the valve body member, therebysubstantially eliminating leakage to the outer end of the valve bodymember and preventing leakage at the handle without the use of packingglands and the like.

ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 4 INVENTOR. g Oscm? L. E lvqsrRoMBY -Mw HTT RNEY RELIEF VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUSHOMETERS This inventionrelates to flush valves or flushometers of the type used with washbasins, water closets, showers, urinals, and other plumbinginstallations, and is directed particularly to an improved pressurerelief valve mechanism for such flush valves.

In my U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,221, issued Aug. 29, 1961, I describe ananti-syphonic flush valve having a large and unrestricted outlet ordischarge waterway in which the path of water discharge is controlled byvalve mechanism devoid of springs, diaphragms, sliding pistons, or cupdiaphragms. In operation of the flush valve, water inlet pressureeffective to normally retain a main valve head member forcefully seatedagainst a main valve seat is temporarily released by means of amanually-actuated relief valve mechanism, whereupon a flushing cycle isinstituted under the influence of greater differential water pressurebeing applied be 7 neaththe main valve head member, to unseat it andthereby temporarily permit flushing water under pressure to bedischarged through the discharge waterway. The relief valve mechanism,after being manually actuated, automatically assumes its closed orsealing position again, with the result that inlet water pressuregradually builds up above the main valve head member to a greaterdownward pressure than that exerted upwardly from below, whereupon saidmain valve head member is forced again into seating engagement againstthe main valve seat to complete the flushing cycle. It is the principalobject of this invention to provide a novel and improved pressure reliefvalve mechanism for flush valves of the character described which willbe simpler and more effective than comparable mechanisms heretoforedevised.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a pressurerelief valve mechanism of the character described wherein the releasepassageway to the inlet of the relief valve mechanism presents a greaterimpedance to flow than the discharge passageway thereof, so thatsubstantially no back pressure will occur at the low pressure side ofthe valve mechanism, thereby obviating the need of packing glands or thelike to prevent water leakage at the actuating lever or handle uponactuation of the valve.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a pressure relief valvemechanism of the above nature wherein the valve body member can readilybe fabricated of a synthetic plastic material such as Nylon, Teflon", orthe like for economy, durability, and trouble free operation over longperiod of time.

Other objects, features,,and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdenote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a flush valve orflushometer embodying my improved relief valve mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the flush valve illustrated in FIG. 1, on anenlarged scale and in vertical crosssection, illustrating mechanicaldetails of the reliefvalve mechanism; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 2 but showingthe valve in manually actuated condition for beginning a flushing cycle.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates generally,a typical flush valve embodying my invention, the same comprising ahousing 11 having an inlet opening 12 for connection with a pressurizedwater supply and an outlet opening 13 for the discharge of flush water.The flush valve also comprises a main valve head member 14 seatable downupon the upper ends of inlet and outlet conduits 15 and 16,respectively. The differential water pressure within the pressurechamber 17, which is normally exerted upon the upper surface of the mainvalve head member 14, maintains said main valve head member in sealingengagement with the outlet conduit 16. Upon the relief of water pressurein the chamber 17 by means of the relief valve mechanism, generallyindicated at 18, the pressure of supply water applied between the inletand outlet conduits .15 and 16 against the underside of the main valvehead member 14 will be greater than that applied from above said mainvalve head member, whereupon it will rise within the pressure chamber 17to permit flushing water under supply pressure to be discharged throughthe outlet opening 13. Since the present invention is' directed only tothe relief valve mechanism 18 for instituting flushing action in theflush valve 10, only said relief valve mechanism is described in greaterdetail herein. While a more detailed description of the above-describedflushing valve mechanism is not deemed to be necessary for fullunderstanding of the present invention, reference can be had toapplicants above referred to US. Pat. No. 2,998,221 for a detaileddescription.

The housing member 11 is integrally formed, opposite the water inletopening 12, with a sidewardlyextending, generally cylindrical housingportion 19 having a lateral bore 20 which, at its inner end,communicates with a reduced-diameter, concentric bore 21, blind at itsinner end. The transition zone between the bores 20 and 21 defines anannular shoulder against which an annular gasket 22 is seated. Thehousing member 11 is also provided with a first pressure releasepassageway 23 communicating between the valve pressure chamber 17 andthe chamber defined by the bore 21,-and a second pressure releasepassageway 24 communicating between the outlet opening 13 and thelateral bore 20 in the sidewall portion thereof.

Received within the bore 20 is a relief valve body member 25, having atits inner end an annular portion 26 which is firmly seated in sealingengagement against the gasket 22 by means hereinafter described. Theouter end of the valve body member 25 is formed with a cylindricalflange portion 27 closely fitted within the bore 20. The relief valvebody member 25 is also formed, at its inner end, with a coaxialcylindrical recess 28, and has an annular groove 29 between the annularportion 26 and the flange portion 27 thereof, said annular groovecommunicating with said cylindrical recess through a plurality of radialopenings 30.

Means as provided for removably securing the relief valve body member 25in fixed relation against the gasket 22 as described above. To this end,a retainer cap member 31 is provided, said retainer cap member beingformed with an externally-threaded skirt portion 32 cooperativelyreceived within an internallythreaded outer end portion of the lateralbore 20 comprising housing portion 19. The externally-threaded skirtportion 32 defines an annular shoulder portion 33 of the retainer capmember 31, against which is seated an annular gasket 33a. When screwedfirmly into place, the terminal end of the externally-threaded skirtportion 32 of the retainer cap member 31 seats down upon a peripheralouter end portion of the relief valve body member flange portion 27 tofirmly seat said valve body member against the gasket 22, while at thesame time seating said cap member against the outer end of the housingportion 29 through gasket 33a. The retainer cap member 31 is alsoprovided with a coaxial cylindrical recess 34 extending inwardly of theskirt portion 32 thereof to a distance just short of the outer end ofsaid cap member, whereat it communicates with a coaxial,reduced-diameter through opening 35 defining therewith an interiorannular shoulder 36.

The relief valve body member 25 is also integrally formed with aconcentric, reduced-diameter, cylindrical portion 37 extending outwardlyof flange portion 27. The flange portion 27 and reduced-diameter portion37 of the relief valve body member 25 are formed with a concentricthrough bore 38, of substantially lesser diameter than that ofcylindrical recess 28.

Slidably received within the bore 38 of the relief valve body member 25is an actuating rod 39, the outer end of which has secured thereto acircular head member 40, such as by peening, as indicated at 41. Theunderside of the head member 40 serves to retain the outer end of ahelical compression string 42 circumjacently disposed with respect tothe reduced-diameter portion 37 of relief valve body member 25, theinner end of which spring is constrainingly seated within an annularrecess 43 provided in the relief valve body member flange portion 27.

A washer retaining machine screw 44 receivable within a threaded openingat the inner end of the actuating rod 39 retains an annular sealingwasher 45 clamped between a metal inner retainer washer 46 of lesserdiameter than cylindrical recess 28 of relief valve body member 25 andmetal outer retainer washer 47 of somewhat greater diameter than that ofsealing washer 45.

A lever handle 48 extends outwardly through the reduced-diameter opening35 of the retainer cap member 31, said lever handle being formed at itsinner end with an increased-diameter flange portion 49 defining anoutwardly-directed annular shoulder 50 which is normally retained inseating engagement against the internal annular shoulder 36 of theretainer cap member 31. The outer end of the flange portion 49 isdefined by a flat, transverse cam surface 51 having a peripheral bevel52. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner end of the reliefvalve body member 25, inwardly of the annular portion 26 thereof, isprovided with a rounded annular valve seat portion 53 for seating thereagainst of the underside of washer 45. As illustrated in FIG. 2, thelength of the actuating rod 39 is just such that when the head member 40is constrained to its limit position against the cam surface 51 of thelever handle 48, under the influence of compression spring 42, thewasher 45 at the innermost end of said actuating rod will be positionedin sealing engagement against the annular valve seat 53.

In operation, momentary sidewise pushing of the lever handle 48 (SeeFIG. 3) will cant the flange portion 49 thereof inwardly, whereupon thehead member 40 at the outer end of actuating rod 39 will be movedinwardly against the reactive resiliant force of the compression spring42. As a result, annular washer 45 will be moved away from its valveseat 53, to allow water under pressure within the flush valve pressurechamber 17 to be instantly released through the first pressure releasepassageway 23, the cylindrical recess 28 in relief valve body member 25,the openings 30 and the annular groove 29 therein to discharge throughthe second pressure release passageway 24 emptying into the outletopening 13 of the flush valve. This instantaneous release of pressurecauses the main valve head member 14 to rise practically instantaneouslyto its full extent within the pressure chamber 17 under the force ofinlet water under pressure emerging from the annular space between theoutlet and inlet conduits l6 and 15, respectibly, thereby initiatingflushing action through the large and restricted water dischargepassageway afforded by the outlet conduit 16. During the flushing cyclea portion of the water will pass through the space between the outersurface of the inlet conduit 15 and the inner surface of the sleeveportion of the main valve head member 14, and around said main valvehead member to enter the pressure chamber 17 and gradually againincrease the water pressure therein above said main valve head member,finally forcing it down again against the valve seat formed by the upperend of the outlet conduit 16, where it will become firmly seated by thetime inlet pipe pressure is reached above said main valve head member toterminate the flushing cycle.

In connection with the operation of the relief valve mechanism 18, it isto be particularly noted that the first pressure release passageway 23is of lesser diameter than that of the second pressure releasepassageway 24 and thus presents a greater impedance to the flow of watertherethrough than does said second pressure release passageway. It isfurther to be noted that the four openings 30 in the relief valve bodymember 25, and the annular groove 29 therein through which the bleed orthe pressure relief water passes through to the second pressure releasepassageway 24 when the lever handle 48 is actuated as described above,are of great enough size to permit release water passage therethrough ata more rapid rate as compared with flow through the first pressurerelease passageway 23. As a result, during the pressure release cycle ofoperation substantially no fluid back pressure can build up within theannular groove 29 of relief valve body member 25. For this reason, anypossible water leakage along the outer periphery of the flange portion27 of the relief valve body member 25, and along the interface betweenthe axial bore 38 of said valve body member and the actuating rod 39 issubstantially eliminated. The above described relief valve construction,therefore, is not only simpler and less expensive in construction, butalso, because of not requiring packing glands and the like to preventwater leakage at the inner end of the actuating handle 48, issubstantially maintenance free.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which myinvention can be conveniently embodied in practice, it is to beunderstood that this embodiment is presented by way of example only andnot in a limiting sense. Thus, while I have illustrated and describedherein an improved relief valve mechanism wherein comparatively greaterflow impedance to the high pressure side of the valve mechanism ascompared with the flow impedance from the low pressure side thereof isachieved by the use of cylindrical passageways of different diameters,such difference in flow resistance to and from the valve mechanism couldalso be achieved in other ways, as by the use of flow impeding bafflesor the like in the passageways, or by the use of flow passageways havingsame diameter, but having different overall lengths. The invention, inbrief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within thescope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An improved relief valve mechanism for flush valves and the like ofthe type having a housing, an inlet opening in the housing for thesupply of water under pressure, an outlet conduit for the discharge offlush water, and a main flush valve in a path of communication betweenthe supply opening and the outlet opening and having a movable mainvalve head member normally retained in valve-closing position withrespect to a valve seat by water pressure applied through a housingpressure chamber upon the valve head member, and wherein a flushingcycle is initiated by temporarily relieving the pressure in the pressurechamber by means of a pressure relief valve mechanism, wherein theimprovement in the relief valve mechanism comprises, a housing portionforming part of the flush valve housing and defining an outwardlyextending cylindrical bore having an inner end and an outer end, acylindrical relief valve body member slidingly received within saidbore, in close fitting relation with respect thereto, an annular valveseat at the inner end of said valve body member and communicating with arecess within said inner end of said valve body member, a valve washernormally seated against said annular valve seat for sealing against theflow of fluid into said recess, a first fluid flow passagewaycommunicating between the flush valve pressure chamber and an opening insaid housing portion inwardly of said valve body member and said valvewasher, a second fluid flow passageway communicating between a sidewallopening in said cylindrical bore and the outlet conduit of the flushvalve, fluid flow passageway means in said relief valve body membercommunicating between said .recess therein and said sidewall opening,manually controlled means for temporarily unseating said valve washerwith respect to said annular valve seat, the impedance to fluid flowthrough said first fluid flow passageway being substantially greaterthan the impedance to fluid flow through said second fluid flowpassageway and said fluid flow passageway means in said relief valve toprevent back pressure at the inner end of said valve body member uponactuation of said manually controlled valve washer unseating means, saidfluid flow passageway means in said relief valve body member comprisingan annular groove in said body member near the inner end thereof and aplurality of radial openings communicating between said groove and saidrecess, said annular groove being in registration with said sidewallopening, said manually controlled means for temporarily unseating saidvalve washer comprising an actuating rod slidably fitted within an axialbore in said relief valve body member, said valve washer being affixedat the inner end of said actuating rod, means for resiliantlyconstraining said actuating rod in outermost position with respect tosaid relief valve body member for seating said valve washer against saidannular valve seat, and handle means for pushing inwardly directly uponthe outer end of said actuating rod for temporarily unseating said valvewasher.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said means forresiliantly constraining said actuating rod in outermost position withrespect to said relief valve body member comprises a head member affixedto the outer end of said actuating rod, and a helical compression springsurrounding said actuating rod and constrained between an undersideportion of said head member and an outer end portion of said reliefvalve body member.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said handle meanscomprises a handle lever having an increased-diameter flange portion atone end normally sated against the outer end of said head member, andmeans constraining a peripheral outer end portion of said lever handleflange portion against outward movement with respect to said actuatingrod so that the underside of said flange portion will be canted inwardlyin sliding disposition against outer surface of said head member forpushing inwardly upon said actuating rod when said lever handle manuallypushed to one side or another.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein said lever handleflange portion constraining means comprises a retainer cap memberremovably secured against the outer end of said cylindrical bore andhaving an inner end extending inwardly with respect to said cylindricalbore, said retainer cap member having a cylindrical recess for thereception of the flange portion end of said lever handle and defining aninterior annular shoulder for the seating of said peripheral outer endportion of said flange portion.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 4 including means for removablysecuring said relief valve body member within said bore, said securingmeans comprising an annular shoulder at the inner end of said bore, andabutment means at the inner end of said retainer cap member adapted toclamp said relief valve body member against said annular shoulder.

i i l W

1. An improved relief valve mechanism for flush valves and the like ofthe type having a housing, an inlet opening in the housing for thesupply of water under pressure, an outlet conduit for the discharge ofFlush water, and a main flush valve in a path of communication betweenthe supply opening and the outlet opening and having a movable mainvalve head member normally retained in valve-closing position withrespect to a valve seat by water pressure applied through a housingpressure chamber upon the valve head member, and wherein a flushingcycle is initiated by temporarily relieving the pressure in the pressurechamber by means of a pressure relief valve mechanism, wherein theimprovement in the relief valve mechanism comprises, a housing portionforming part of the flush valve housing and defining an outwardlyextending cylindrical bore having an inner end and an outer end, acylindrical relief valve body member slidingly received within saidbore, in close fitting relation with respect thereto, an annular valveseat at the inner end of said valve body member and communicating with arecess within said inner end of said valve body member, a valve washernormally seated against said annular valve seat for sealing against theflow of fluid into said recess, a first fluid flow passagewaycommunicating between the flush valve pressure chamber and an opening insaid housing portion inwardly of said valve body member and said valvewasher, a second fluid flow passageway communicating between a sidewallopening in said cylindrical bore and the outlet conduit of the flushvalve, fluid flow passageway means in said relief valve body membercommunicating between said recess therein and said sidewall opening,manually controlled means for temporarily unseating said valve washerwith respect to said annular valve seat, the impedance to fluid flowthrough said first fluid flow passageway being substantially greaterthan the impedance to fluid flow through said second fluid flowpassageway and said fluid flow passageway means in said relief valve toprevent back pressure at the inner end of said valve body member uponactuation of said manually controlled valve washer unseating means, saidfluid flow passageway means in said relief valve body member comprisingan annular groove in said body member near the inner end thereof and aplurality of radial openings communicating between said groove and saidrecess, said annular groove being in registration with said sidewallopening, said manually controlled means for temporarily unseating saidvalve washer comprising an actuating rod slidably fitted within an axialbore in said relief valve body member, said valve washer being affixedat the inner end of said actuating rod, means for resiliantlyconstraining said actuating rod in outermost position with respect tosaid relief valve body member for seating said valve washer against saidannular valve seat, and handle means for pushing inwardly directly uponthe outer end of said actuating rod for temporarily unseating said valvewasher.
 2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said means forresiliantly constraining said actuating rod in outermost position withrespect to said relief valve body member comprises a head member affixedto the outer end of said actuating rod, and a helical compression springsurrounding said actuating rod and constrained between an undersideportion of said head member and an outer end portion of said reliefvalve body member.
 3. The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein saidhandle means comprises a handle lever having an increased-diameterflange portion at one end normally sated against the outer end of saidhead member, and means constraining a peripheral outer end portion ofsaid lever handle flange portion against outward movement with respectto said actuating rod so that the underside of said flange portion willbe canted inwardly in sliding disposition against outer surface of saidhead member for pushing inwardly upon said actuating rod when said leverhandle manually pushed to one side or another.
 4. The improvement asdefined in claim 3 wherein said lever handle flange portion constrainingmeans comprises a retainer cap member removably seCured against theouter end of said cylindrical bore and having an inner end extendinginwardly with respect to said cylindrical bore, said retainer cap memberhaving a cylindrical recess for the reception of the flange portion endof said lever handle and defining an interior annular shoulder for theseating of said peripheral outer end portion of said flange portion. 5.The improvement as defined in claim 4 including means for removablysecuring said relief valve body member within said bore, said securingmeans comprising an annular shoulder at the inner end of said bore, andabutment means at the inner end of said retainer cap member adapted toclamp said relief valve body member against said annular shoulder.